Seven months after the release of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, E3 2014 is
the difficult second show in a crucial year for blockbuster gaming, says Tom
Hoggins.

Buoyed by the upcoming release of next-generation consoles, E3 2013 saw video games get their swagger back. The world’s biggest gaming expo was a showcase for Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4, machines they hoped would revitalise an industry descending from a giddy peak. ‘More power, more fun’ seemed to be the mantra.

As the industry arrives in Los Angeles for next week’s E3 2014, this year is even more crucial for blockbuster gaming. Seven months after the release of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, E3 2014 is the difficult second show. Now is the time to justify the hubris, providing exciting new games without the safety net of improved hardware to impress the crowds.

Sony will hope to extend the momentum of the PlayStation 4’s impressive start. The Japanese electronics firm has sold over seven million units of its new console. Sony played their hand brilliantly at last year’s E3, bloodying Microsoft’s nose by undercutting its rival’s price and garnering goodwill with their focus on games and dedication to independent developers.

However, the PlayStation 4 has struggled to build a library of compelling exclusives since its release. Sony will need to have a strong lineup for their keynote on Monday night, games like matinee adventure Uncharted 4 and The Order 1886 will bolster its action quota, while ‘Project Beast’, made by Dark Souls developer From Software will be one of the most intriguing games at the show. Sony will also be showing off Project Morpheus, its virtual reality headset that will rival the Facebook-owned Oculus Rift.

Microsoft, meanwhile, have endured a tricky, if not entirely unsuccessful, launch for Xbox One, with gamers dissuaded by the software giant’s obsession with presenting the new Xbox as an all-in-one entertainment device. Microsoft has also performed so many u-turns on its misguided policies —such as the mandatory Kinect camera and always-online— it has been in danger of tying itself in knots. These have been the right decisions, however, and with a new focus on games, the Xbox One seems to be heading in the right direction. Microsoft will need a strong lineup at their E3 keynote to convince its detractors. Games such as sci-fi shooter Halo 5, fantasy RPG Fable Legends and racer Forza Horizon 2 will bolster its exclusive catalogue. We could also see a new Gears of War, while Xbox’s most interesting exclusive, TV show and adventure game hybrid Quantum Break, should also get a fresh airing.

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This is all not forgetting Nintendo, of course, enjoying a quiet resurgence of its struggling Wii U console due to the release of Mario Kart 8. Nintendo will be unveiling new games of its own at E3 via a livestream on Tuesday in the hope of boosting the Wii U further. Cartoon fighter Super Smash Bros. will star, but fans greatest hope is for a new Legend of Zelda, which Nintendo is expected to unveil.

As ever, the third-party publishers such as Activision, EA and Ubisoft will also have their say, showing off their new wares and hopefully springing a few surprises. Destiny, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Star Wars Battlefront, The Division and Batman: Arkham Knight are all expected to make a the biggest noise. And if one thing is for certain, this show is going to be big, brash and boisterous. As far as announcing the industry’s intentions for the year ahead to the world, E3 is not a place for subtlety.